No Use For A Name/Yellowcard/Eyeliners: live in Seattlelive in Seattle (2002)Fat Wreck Chords

Reviewer Rating: 4

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Contributed by: Steve Samuelson(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on November 22nd 2002While standing in line outside of Graceland, one of Seattle's best punk venues, I had plenty of time to think about what was ahead. I had seen No Use twice before, (not including the meager ten minutes of their Warped Tour set, as a result of piss-poor scheduling) and was yet to be dissapointed. I w.

While standing in line outside of Graceland, one of Seattle's best punk venues, I had plenty of time to think about what was ahead. I had seen No Use twice before, (not including the meager ten minutes of their Warped Tour set, as a result of piss-poor scheduling) and was yet to be dissapointed. I wasn't familiar with Slick Shoes, but had limited knowledge as to what category they fell under. As for Yellowcard, I'd grown somewhat familliar due to the current popularity of their poppish brand of emotional punk. I had heard a song or two from The Eyeliners, but had never taken much of a liking.

To start things off, Slick Shoes took the stage. Now, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't grabbed by the first couple songs they played and their fair bit of stage presence. However, as their set grew longer I began to only notice the similarities in every one of their songs. The crowd seemed to overall enjoy their set, though.

Next up was The Eyeliners. Perhaps the least lively of the four acts. I understand that most bands end up using the same 3-chord progressions to write their songs, nowadays, but this was just ridiculous. None of their songs showed any strand of originality and I think the crowd would agree with me. There wasn't really any movement in the audience, and the only people who looked as if they were enjoying themselves, were the band members.

After a tedious set from the Eyeliners, it was going to take quite an effort from Yellowcard to revive the crowd. And that, is precisely what was given. From the first note they played, to the popular closer "October Nights," every person in that room was moving with some sort of exitement. Perhaps their biggest burst of energy came from Sean, their violinist (that's right, violinist) as he shot like a bullet off of the stage and into the hands of the crowd, all the time grasping the microphone and not missing one word.

Next was the moment that hopefully every person in the room was eagerly anticipating. No Use's Tony Sly walked on stage alone, carrying his guitar, he opened up an explosive set, gently, with the opening track from their newest release, "Hard Rock Bottom." As he wrapped up, the remaining members came to the stage and immediately burst into the two-track, "International You Day." This made the crowd ignite into an indescribable frenzy. NUFAN continued to power through their set with songs off of all of their albums, past and present. Playing distinct No Use hits such as "Coming Too Close," "Not Your Savior," and "Making Friends" paved way for more underappreciated tunes such as "Invincible." They ended their riviting set with "Justified Black Eye," only to have the crowd summon them back for more. As they returned to the stage the crowd was pleased to see Sean, from Yellowcard, join them with his violin on one of "Hard Rock Bottom's" more sorrow-filled tracks, "Let Me Down." The crowd got one last burst of energy when No Use officially ended the show with "Redemption Song."

All Together, I was quite impressed with the show and will continue to be a big fan of No Use. However, I also have grown new interest towards Yellowcard, who broke the mold of a normally annoying performance, that their particular genre produces.

look, no use is honestly the only diehard skateupnk band reallyworth it. i would see them if thy didn't play with such shitty ass bands, and besides they need some moshers or skankers or SOMETHING.
yellowcard are a corporate crap band like good charlotte, only prettier.

Anonymous (November 25, 2002)

when will people realize that no use for a name sucks?! the vocals are decent, but every song sounds the same. it's not a coincedence that most people's favorite nufan song is a cover (redemption song). they sucked 10 years ago, they suck now. i always wondered why the hell they were so popular. they don't have the technical qualities of lagwagon and propagandhi, they don't have the catchiness of nofx, they don't have the good song qualities of ALL and they don't have the power of good riddance. all in all, a very average band, with a sound so bland that i don't feel any emotion at all while listen to their albums (yes, i have listened to all of their albums at least once).

Yellowcard is so bad it's painful. Just because a band jumps around doesn't mean they're a good live band. And having a violin doesn't change the fact that they're the most derivative uninteresting crap I've heard in a long time.

Anonymous (November 24, 2002)

You like No Use For A Name and Yellowcard, yet slag the Eyeliners. HAHAHAHAH. Talk about unorignal, uninspired, and repetitive!!! You're good for a laugh, kid. Keep up the wonderful reviews.......

Slick Shoes, The Eyeliners, and Yellowcard all make me really really bored but No Use for a Name kicks some ass. The score is for them.-BostonMusicGuy

Anonymous (November 23, 2002)

When No Use opened the tour here in Sacramento (orangevale) they didnt play let me down, they had it down on the set list but ran out of time and just ended with Redemption song. It sucks I really wanted to hear let me down. Oh well theyre a fuckin great band. I got to see it when GOB was on it instead of Slick Shoes, thank god.

Anonymous (November 23, 2002)

i saw this show in Toronto, and your review pretty much summed it up. NUFAN is a great live band, but i was dissapointed with the amount of HRB/MB stuff they played. Slick Shoes weren't bad, I couldn't hear the Eyeliners but it pissed me off when that singer from them came out and sang Karina's part of On The Outside. Guttermouth played the Toronto show too....i hate guttermouth...oh well...